KATHMANDU: Three civil service aspirants died after the basement of a coaching center in central Delhi's Old Rajinder Nagar flooded following heavy rain, officials reported. The Delhi Fire Department received a call about waterlogging at Rau's IAS Study Circle around 7 pm on Saturday, indicating that people might be trapped in the basement.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Delhi) M Harshavardhan mentioned that the flooding occurred rapidly, trapping several people inside. Five fire tenders were dispatched to the scene, and the basement was already full of water upon their arrival. During the rescue operation by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), local police, and fire department, the bodies of two female students and one male student were recovered. The deceased people's identities are yet unknown.
The rescue operation extended past midnight, and students protested the deaths, criticizing the authorities. Revenue Minister Atishi ordered an inquiry into the incident and demanded a report within 24 hours, promising accountability. Delhi BJP leaders blamed the AAP administration for neglecting to clean local drains, accusing local MLA Durgesh Pathak of ignoring repeated appeals from residents.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the basement housed a library where many students were present when it began to flood. Rescue efforts were hindered by floating furniture. Earlier in the week, another civil services aspirant was electrocuted in a related incident due to waterlogged conditions in central Delhi's Patel Nagar area.
BJP leader Manjinder Sirsa claimed that 18 people were still trapped, though this was not officially confirmed. Divers were called in to assist in the rescue, with local residents and leaders holding the AAP government responsible for the tragedy due to their alleged failure to maintain drainage infrastructure.
